Davis demands a formal review of improving children’s health

Sam Sachdeva is the political editor of Newsroom, which covers foreign affairs, trade, defense and security.

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Taken by the state

Oranga Tamariki was asked to carry out an internal investigation into an uprising after officials failed to comply with the Children’s Minister’s demands for an explanation.

Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis ordered Oranga Tamariki to conduct a formal review of the uprising case documented in a newsroom investigation, after officials gave him unsatisfactory explanations for the actions shown.

News of the ministerial lawsuit comes after a High Court judge ordered Newsroom to remove a documentary video about social workers from Oranga Tamariki taking children out of their foster home “forever.”

In an interview, the minister told Newsroom that he had seen most of the video and had called Oranga Tamariki officials at his office for a “please explain.”

“I was upset by what I saw, it was absolutely heartbreaking …

“The first thing we should think about is the well-being of those children, and … having children in a loving and safe family is priority number one.”

When asked if it was sustainable for Oranga Tamariki CEO Grainne Moss to stay on top of the ministry in light of the latest revelations, he said: “There are issues with leadership, and I’m handling them, but let’s be really clear. . changes in OT are bigger than just leadership. There is a systemic problem here and one person is not necessarily the problem, we have to look at the whole system. “

A Davis spokesperson told the Newsroom that the minister had requested an urgent written briefing to address a series of unresolved questions from his initial discussion with officials Thursday morning.

That briefing did not address his concerns, and when further clarification still failed to satisfy him, he formally asked Oranga Tamariki chief social worker Grant Bennett to conduct a review of the lifting practice.

Terms of reference for the review are currently being developed and an initial report is expected in mid-December.